Christian Bautista and Angeline Quinto - In Love With You (Music Video)

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Diamond Asiansation Christian Bautista ushers in 2012 with the release of his highly-anticipated "First Class: Outbound Expanded Edition" album. The album, which has a limited edition coffee table book, marks his 10th anniversary in showbiz. It includes nine new tracks, five hits from the original "Outbound," and new recording of his earlier hits "Hands To Heaven" and "The Way You Look At Me."

"I can really say that this is my best album yet- from the songs, to the packaging, to the guest artists. I am really proud of this album," says Christian. "Plus, this is also very important because this marks my comeback into releasing new songs."

Christian hopes that the fans will support his new songs from the album. The carrier single from the album "Beautiful To Me" is currently the top downloaded song in www.mymusicstore.com.ph.

"We've worked hard to get the perfect original songs to be included in this album," states Christian. "I am extremely happy also that I was given this chance to re-record two of my biggest hits - "Hands To Heaven" and "The Way You Look At Me." Recording those tracks brought so many memories."

Christian also expressed excitement over the chance to work with some of the most promising artists of this generation Angeline Quinto for "In Love With You," originally recorded by Regine Velasquez and Asian superstar Jacky Cheung. Watch the video below:

Aga Muhlach discovers the great adventures in Bicol in the upcoming episodes of Pinoy Explorer on TV5.

In the first part of the two-part special, entitled ‘Isla-Amazing’, Aga goes to Camarines Sur and visits the beautiful Caramoan Islands to experience wake-boarding and mountain off-road driving.

Bicolano cuisine is a popular fare in the country and Aga gets a taste of the one-of-a kind Bicolano pizza. He also looks for the region’s talented animators and visits a group of prisoners skilled in making toy boats.

For the second part, airing on March 18, Aga visits Albay and Sorsogon in search for the biggest fish in the sea, the gentle giants called Butanding. From these friendly whalesharks, Aga tries to find the Sinarapan, the smallest edible fish. He then takes the adrenaline up a notch by riding an All-Terrain-Vehicle going to the majestic Mayon Volcano. But Aga’s biggest challenge yet is the infamous Bicol Express. Can he stand the intense spice of this delectable Bicol specialty?

Find out all this and more in the upcoming episodes of Pinoy Explorer. Part one airs this Sunday, March 11, and part two on March 18, 6:30 p.m. on TV5.

Topbilled by Piolo Pascual, Jericho Rosales, Christopher de Leon, Cristine Reyes, and Maricar Reyes; “Dahil sa Pag-ibig” features the story of how the battling beliefs of Alfred (Pascual) and Oliver (Rosales) began from the greediness of Leo Valderama (de Leon).

Completing the ‘powerhouse’ cast are some of the respected names in the industry such as Ronaldo Valdez, Sandy Andolong, Tetchie Agbayani, Rafael Rosell, Denise Laurel, Freddie Webb, Rey PJ Abellana, Carla Martinez, Joonee Gamboa, Bing Davao, Melissa Mendez, Malou Crisologo, Cheska Iñigo, Jeffrey Santos and Edward Mendez; with the special participation of Joel Torre; and introducing young teen stars Ella Cruz and Francis Magundayao. The newest series is under the direction of Darnel Villaflor and Avel Sunpongco.

Don’t miss the beginning of the most-awaited teleserye “Dahil sa Pag-ibig” this Monday (March 12) on Primetime Bida of ABS-CBN. For more updates log on to www.abs-cbn.com or follow @abscbndotcom on Twitter.

President Noynoy's rumored girlfriend Grace Lee scored another way to promote herself and her blossoming relationship with the President through a cover story in Inside Showbiz magazine March 2012 issue?

Is she going to be the next First Lady? Buy Inside Showbiz March 2012 issue now to find out the real score between Grace and PNoy.

What seems to be a simple move for TV5 to boost its popularity in the Philippines turns out to have a bigger objective.

By bringing over American Idol sensation David Archuleta to star in its primetime series Nandito Ako, TV5 has been successful in its aim to tap a global market as proven by the tremendous popularity the show has gained in different countries since it premiered last February 20.

Nandito Ako and other Nandito Ako-related phrases and hashtags (i.e., “Oh My Josh Bradley,” “Watch Nandito Ako Marathon,” “David Archuleta in Bunny Suit,” “Run Josh Bradley Run,” “Nandito Ako Week 2,” “David Archuleta is Josh Bradley,” among others) have been consistently figuring every night in Twitter trending topics not only in the Philippines but also worldwide. The show has also ranked high in Twitter trending topics in different countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam as well as in various states in the US. Further, David Archuleta’s first drama venture via Nandito Ako landed on the pages of international newspapers, magazines and online sites.

With TV5’s international expansion through Pilipinas Global Network (PGN), Nandito Ako has proven to be an effective vehicle in attracting potential viewers and supporters worldwide. Due to Nandito Ako’s international popularity, TV5 now has a following of Filipinos overseas as well as non-Filipinos who were initially David Archuleta fans but have learned to love the show and its cast.

The move also paved the way for Filipino artists, particularly home-grown TV5 talents Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Eula Caballero, to be recognized in the international scene.

Now on its third week, Nandito Ako keeps viewers hooked with its relatable and compelling story. In his attempt to find his long lost mother, Josh Bradley (David Archuleta) and Anya (Jasmine Curtis-Smith) end up in a coastal province far from Manila. Here, they are forced to be together all the time despite their mutual dislike. For Josh, it’s the only way for him to find his mother; and for Anya, a fulfilment of the promise she made to her best friend Holly (Eula Caballero). Will the two stand each other’s presence? Or will their mutual dislike brew something sweeter?

GMA-7′s Primetime Drama Series ‘Legacy’ Named Best Soap Opera in Mindanao

Broadcast giant, GMA Network, continues to provide unparalleled and unmatched television programs for its viewers.

GMA 7’s glossy drama masterpiece, “Legacy,” was hailed as the Best Soap Opera at the recently concluded Parangal ng Media 2012 held at the University of Mindanao.

Millions of viewers are continuously watching the unpredictable and intense episode of “Legacy.” As the rivalry between Diana (Heart Evangelista), Natasha (Lovi Poe) and Bernadette (Alessandra de Rossi) continues, who will remain on top?

Don’t miss the undisputed top-rating series “Legacy” from Monday-Friday after My Beloved on GMA-7.

Radio station Magic 89.9 refutes reports that their former disc jockey Angelika Schmeing-Cruz or more popularly known as Angelicopter, was terminated because of co-dj Grace Lee who is dating the Philippine President.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the Magic 89.9 management clarified that Angelicopter was not dismissed because of Grace's wishes.

In her numerous interviews, Angelicopter said she was dismissed from her Good Times radio program because Grace doesn't want to work with her anymore - a feeling resulted to their old petty misunderstanding which could have been easily fixed should Grace have became open about it.

"May miscommunication kasi nagkasabay kami nag invite ng guests sa show. As you see, hindi nga big deal. Unfortunately she decided that she can no longer work with me on the show." Angelicopter said.

"Due to seniority I was pulled out of the program. I understand the decision made by management as sad as it is and I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Mo Twister & Grace Lee." Angelicopter added.

The management confirmed the misunderstanding between the two, but reiterated that Angelicopter was sacked because of her performance.

"It is true that there was a misunderstanding between the two ladies. However, it was NOT the reason Mrs. Schmeing-Cruz was terminated."

Magic 89.9 said Cruz attention has been called several times due to internal issues, which prompted them for her exit.

"It was a matter decided after an ongoing assessment of her overall performance. Magic 89.9 has a culture of giving as many chances as possible provided those concerned show the capacity to improve their craft both off and on air. We're saddened that it had to come to this."

Meanwhile, Grace said that it's so childish how Angelicopter is making it seem like there is a connection between the issue and the fact that she is dating the Noynoy Aquino.

"Ang pinakaayaw ko sa sinabi niya is that ginawa ko 'yon dahil I feel powerful. This happened even before I met the president. I had not gone out on a single date with him. It has nothing to do with that. "

Grace also expresses her admiration on the support of her home station and for setting the record straight.

Bobbi Kristina, Whitney Houston's 19-year-old daughter will inherit every single fortune of his late mom. But how about ex-husband Bobby Brown. Well, he gets nothing based on Houston's will.

Houston, who died last month, left all of her money, property, clothing and personal effects to her only child, according to the document dated and signed in 1993, the year Bobbi Kristina was born.

The late singer's money will be placed into a trust, which Bobbi Kristina can partially access when she turns 21. She will be able to access another portion of her inheritance at age 25 and the remainder at age 30. Houston's trustees can also add money to the fund, the will states.

Houston's mother, Cissy Houston, is named as executor of the estate in an updated version of the will filed in 2000. But Forbes reports the will was updated again in 2004 to name sister-in-law, Patricia, as administrator of her estate.

Vault' latest issue delves into the nostalgia of the past - how the resurgence of classic brands remains timeless and exceptional. From vintage tube amps to Ivy League prep, “Vault” returns to products that revive memories and are built to last.

The latest issue explores Champagne, France, highlighting the finest bubblies produced from the region, and retrace the roots of caviar, made famous by the Russians who began harvesting the fine, black pearls since 13th century. The 13th century also brings back to Florence, Italy, where Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, one of the world’s oldest pharmacies and perfumeries, was founded in 1221 by Dominican monks whose herbal products are still sought after today.

“Vault” also ventures to Geneva, Switzerland for the luxury watch fair Salon International de la Haute Horologie to see classic watchmaking at its best, noting new trends among elite watch houses like Cartier and Vacheron Constantin.

The magazine also lingers in Kyoto, Japan, exploring the city’s endangered cultural treasures and ceremonies found in traditional tea houses, zen rock gardens, and the fast-disappearing kyomachiya, or Japanese wooden house, whose classic architecture originates in Kyoto.

Vault is a modern, sophisticated man’s lifestyle magazine featuring global luxury brands, unique experiences, and fine products that represent the best achievements of the human hand. Its approach to luxury is informed by creativity, craftsmanship, passion, and heritage.

In every issue you will find exceptional people and brands, which draw from the past to create the new icons of our age. Published quarterly by ABS-CBN Publishing, each issue has sections dedicated to automobiles, aviation, new establishments, equipment, travel, timepieces, art, style, grooming, property, and fine dining.

Vault is sold at all major bookstores in Metro Manila and is available for download on Zinio. To download ABS-CBN’s magazines, users on Android devices must download the Zinio app from the Android Market. The app is also available through the iPad App Store. PC and Mac users can access Zinio at zinio.com.

Fun, Stars and Cash at TV5’s Kapatid New Year Pabuenas Grand Draw this Saturday at SM San Lazaro

Over P3 million cash is at stake at the grand raffle draw of TV5’s “Kapatid New Year Pabuenas” this Saturday (March 10) at the activity center of SM San Lazaro in Manila. But aside from the grand draw, the event will be a chance for all the Kapatids to see their favorite stars from several TV5 shows as they perform and engage in some exciting activities at the “Sugod mga Kapatid” event.

Open to the public for free, the 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. event on Saturday is packed with fun, entertainment and tons of premium items from TV5 booths – with sponsors Bear Brand Busog Lusog Family Cereal Drink, Maggi Magic Sarap, Nescafé 3in1 and Nestea Iced Tea.

Twenty (20) winners of P10,000 each, 4 winners of P 500,000 each, and one winner of P1 million will be raffled off from over 1 million entries generated during the entire “Kapatid New Year Pabuenas” promo period (January 2 to February 24). A total of 5,500 winners of P100 SMART load have also been previously raffled through electronic draw.

Take the journey and experience “Titanic” like never before as filmmakers James Cameron and Jon Landau bring back the world’s most celebrated film in 3D.

Titanic left Southampton dock midday on Wednesday, April 10, 1912, stopping at Cherbourg, France, and finally, made her last stop at Queenstown on the south coast of Ireland. From Queenstown, with some 2,223 people aboard, she steamed at top speed for New York City. Yet, despite repeated warnings of ice along its route, the ship fatally struck an iceberg at 11:40pm on April 14, less than five days into its maiden voyage. By 2:30am on April 15th, she lay torn in half at the bottom of the North Atlantic. The ensemble cast of “Titanic 3D” includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bate, Gloria Stuart and Bill Paxton.

Cameron’s inspiration for the film was borne out of his fascination with shipwrecks; he wanted to convey the emotional message of the tragedy, and felt that a love story interspersed with the human loss would be essential to achieving this. The following Q&A with James Cameron and producer Jon Landau further takes us into revisiting the voyage that took the world out of its comfort zone.

Q: What has drawn you to pursue this story in line with the unprecedented Titanic shipwreck?James: "Titanic was the first big wake-up call of the twentieth century. Technology had been delivering a steady diet of miracles for the better part of two decades -- the automobile, sound recording, radio communication, the airplane, motion pictures. Everything was just exploding with possibilities; it was all going to be great and wonderful in the never-ending upward spiral of progress. And then, boom - 15 hundred people die in what had been advertised as the best, safest, most luxurious ship ever built. Our so-called mastery over nature was completely refuted and forever destroyed."

Q: How was it converting Titanic in 3D?Jon: It was a mammoth task - every shot of the film is now a visual shot; every frame (24 per second) had to be looked at in terms of stereo depth processing. We had 60 weeks to work on the conversion, and before that we had a year and a half of research and talks with vendors about the possibility of converting; the wonderful thing about conversion is that it is a creative process that uses technological tools, so we have not gone into the film editing it and doing a directors cut, we are converting not changing. We had 450 people working full time on the film, defining space and figuring out where objects sat in the shot. We used $18 million on this conversion, more of a budget than some films.

Q: Why is it essential to convert the movie in 3D?James: “We get to bring Titanic back to the big screen after having been gone for 15 years. There's a whole generation of people who have never seen the film in a movie theatre. I'm a strong believer in the theatrical experience in general, but specifically for this film.”

Q: What does the future hold for you and James Cameron?Jon: Well, we are working on the Avatar sequels [Avatar 2 and 3]. We have recently leased a facility for 5 years, but we've built in-house a building for the technical, post production crew so they are a part of the collaborative process. We learned so much from Avatar to help us with the Titanic conversion than you realise. 3D is not the be all and end all in action sequences because of the sharp editing, 3D is key in dialogue scenes where the nuance of performance can still be captured and still grab the audience. And we don't want to own the rights to 3D filmmaking - we invite Steven [Spielberg] and Peter [Jackson] to learn from us as we are all storytellers and we want to push and improve the future of film.

James: "For me now, it is getting good practises for 3D into the home, into the workplace, and into our daily image consumption. Part of this daily 3D image consumption is weaning consumers off the idea that 3D equals glasses. But smaller screens that are in the desktop, laptop, tablet size, where it is basically a single user model, you can do those right now. And you are going to see a lot more of those products coming to market over the next year and so. Then people will realise that 3D doesn't equal glasses, 3D only equals glasses in certain circumstances. Ultimately with tablets and laptops, people can toggle between 2D and 3D, and it will just become part of their diet."

“Titanic 3D” opens April 7 (Saturday) in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. Like 20th Century Fox – Philippines on Facebook for more updates.

We saw her doing fantaserye in "Enteng Kabisote" series. She , too, does fits the bill in comedy as part of the longest running comedy show "Bubble Gang" and an effective character star in "Biritera". Now, Kapuso artist Gwen Zamora is about to prove she too can act and worthy of being called an "actress" via her upcoming first international movie "The Witness" where she plays the lead.

In "The Witness", Gwen embarks to a thrilling challenge in her career as an artist - showing the local and international audiences her acting prowess.

Among the cast of the said film, Gwen is the only Filipina yet she assures the moviegoers that she did her best to be at par with her co-stars.

Gwen portrays the role of Angel Flordeliza Isagani, a General Manager of a hotel, who was transferred from Manila to the Jakarta hotel. She is haunted by strange dream about a young man, named Aris, who attempted suicide by firing his own gun into his mouth.

Who is Aris in Angel's life? What does the bizarre dreams wanted to convey?

As Angel finds the answer to the dreams that keep haunting her, don't miss "The Witness" on March 21, 2012 on theaters nationwide.

Directed by Muhammed Yusuf, produced by Skylar Pictures and released by GMA Films, "The Witness" will also be shown in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Charice, who will stage her first solo concert called "Charice Infinity Tour" tonight at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum and on March 11 at the Waterfront Cebu Hotel, sports an attention-grabbing short blonde hairdo and a tattoo that says "Love Eternally" with an infinity sign that she recently got during her concert in Singapore.

In fairness, her new hairdo looks good on her. But what's with the tattoo? Charice said, "It‘s not just a tattoo. It has a meaning for me. This is for my love for the people, love for my dad, love for my family.

"I think everybody‘s shocked. This is such a big step for me and I love it. This is me. This is who I am. I just don‘t want to stay a person that I don‘t like...I‘ve been thinking about it for years and years. This is a dream come true for me." she added.

Charice, who is reportedly seating as a mentor judge in ABS-CBN's local franchise of "X Factor", will be joined by Iyaz for the Philippine leg of her Infinity Tour. The two collaborated for the chart-topping hit "Pyramid."

Aside from Iyaz, the famous Pinoy international singer will also be joined by some of her Little Big Star co-alumni Sam Concepcion, Rhap Salazar, Makisig Morales, Kyle Balili and Gian Barbarona.

“Up Close and Personal with Suze Orman: A Korina Sanchez Interview” airs this Friday (March 9) on ANC.

Award-winning broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez delivers an exclusive one-on-one interview with internationally acclaimed personal finance guru Suze Orman, who will give Filipinos advice on how to better manage their money in “Up Close and Personal with Suze Orman: A Korina Sanchez Interview” on Friday (March 9) at 7 p.m., on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel.

Orman, who was invited by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to the country, will give her insightful remarks on Filipinos’ familial relations and culture, the importance of health insurance and saving up for retirement, and will give out tips on handling debts and allowances.

The best-selling author and Emmy-winning host of the top-rating CNBC program “The Suze Orman Show” will not only teach ANC viewers financial responsibility but will also do what she does best – inspire – as she shares her rags-to-riches story with Korina.

Aside from the special interview, Korina will also appear in another exclusive for ANC. As the formerly military-controlled Myanmar embarks on a path to democracy for the first time in 50 years, the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) takes Filipinos inside the Southeast Asian nation’s political developments in a special documentary, “ANC Presents: Myanmar Opens to the World,” airing next Friday (Mar 16) at 7 p.m.

She led the first and only TV news crew from the Philippines that was allowed to enter Myanmar for her documentary that bares democracy icon and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s hopes for the Philippines’ current administration and insights on former President Corazon Aquino’s legacy.

Since the release of Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi from house arrest in 2010, staggering administrative reforms have been carried out by the new civilian government, including the emancipation of political prisoners and relieving media censorship.

Learn more about the resource-rich country also known as Burma, its people, its government leaders, and get a rare glimpse of the city of Naypyitaw, Myanmar’s new capital that was previously closed to tourists.

For financial advice and tips, tune in to “Up Close and Personal with Suze Orman: A Korina Sanchez Interview” this Friday (March 9), 7 p.m. on ANC (SkyCable Channel 27) with replay at 10:30 p.m., and weekend replays on Saturday (March 10), 10 a.m., and Sunday (March 11). Catch “ANC Presents: Myanmar Opens to the World” next Friday (March 16), 7 p.m., also on ANC.

ABS-CBN, the country's largest multimedia conglomerate, has been granted all the media rights for the live broadcast of the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.

The network's sister channels Balls (SkyCable Channel 34), the home of the world's biggest sporting events, and Studio 23 will both broadcast the matches live during the course of Champions League and Europa tournaments starting from the 2012 to 2013 season, which begins in September.

Balls' Channel's well-visited online platform www.ballschannel.tv and other mobile services of ABS-CBN have also been awarded the media content of the prestigious games, which feature Europe's most coveted football clubs.

ABS-CBN recently inked an agreement with UEFA giving the media giant all the exclusive media rights for a comprehensive coverage of the 2012 to 2015 UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League seasons.

Always tune in to Balls and be updated with the biggest happenings in the world of sports. Balls channel is available on SkyCable Platinum, SkyCable Gold, SkyCable Silver and over 200 quality cable operators nationwide. For more updates, visit www.ballschannel.tv and follow us on facebook.com/BallsChannel and @ballschannel on Twitter.

Randy Jackson: This is one of the hardest songs in the world to sing. You, not only the best vocal of the night but also one of the best singers in this whole competition. America, this is one of the best talents in the whole country.

Jennifer Lopez: Just, just amazing. Oh my God. You are so talented.

Steven Tyler: You may be the one. You just made 40 million people cry.

It’s time to stock up on the best warm season essentials to keep you fab and stylish. Before you hit the beach and soak up the sun, hosts Iya Villania and Angel Aquino will share their fab moisturizing tips to protect your skin from the heat, and their waxing and tanning tips to help you achieve that perfect golden tan.

“Us Girls” will also discover the perfect swimsuits that suit your body type, skin tone, and lifestyle, and teach you practical and smart tips on how to wear them.

With the temperature rising, the lifestyle magazine show authority will feature the coolest summer quenchers to keep you refreshed and the finest grilled meriendas and delicacies for the whole barkada.

Summer is in the air in “Us Girls,” the 2012 UPLB Gandingan Awards’ Best Women-Oriented Program tonight (March 8) on Studio 23 at 9:30 p.m. or watch it anytime on www.studio23.tv.

The Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning HBO Original Series Boardwalk Empire will kick off its 12-episode second season in Asia on Thursday, March 8 at 10pm on HBO with two new episodes airing back-to-back every week. From Terence Winter, Emmy® Award-winning writer of The Sopranos and Academy Award®-winning director Martin Scorsese, the drama series is set in the 1920s in the early days of Prohibition, and chronicles the life and times of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, the undisputed leader of Atlantic City, who was equal parts politician and gangster.

Atlantic City, 1921: Though his fortunes have soared in the wake of the enactment of Prohibition, Nucky Thompson is paying a steep price for wielding ultimate power in “the world’s playground.” Following the ’20 election, Nucky finds himself the target of an investigation for voter fraud and faces not only jail, but insurrection by some of those he considered his closest allies.

In season two, Nucky and his lieutenants – including young World War I veteran Jimmy Darmody – appear to have solidified their hold on power by rigging an election and getting a crony elected mayor. However, after a bloody KKK attack at Chalky White’s bootleg warehouse, Nucky finds his hold on Atlantic City weakened, first by state agents who arrest him for election fraud and ransack his office, then by members of his own inner circle and even his family, who align with Jimmy’s father, the aging Commodore Louis Kaestner, in an attempt to oust him altogether. Meanwhile, mobsters like Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky and Al Capone wait in the wings, looking for the chance to grab a bigger piece of Nucky’s pie.

Boardwalk Empire won two Screen Actors Guild Awards last month, for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Steve Buscemi) and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

In September 2011, Boardwalk Empire received eight Emmy® Awards including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Martin Scorsese) and Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series, and two Golden Globe® Awards in January 2011 for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Steve Buscemi). Created by Terence Winter, Boardwalk Empire is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg; co-executive produced by Gene Kelly and Howard Korder; produced by Joseph Iberti and Rick Yorn.

Don’t miss the much anticipated, 12-episode second season of Boardwalk Empire when it premieres in Asia on Thursday, March 8 at 10pm on HBO / 9pm HBO HD with two new episodes airing weekly.

There are few writer/directors in the world who have inspired the kind of fan devotion that Joss Whedon has. Beginning with the cult hit “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and moving on to “Angel,” “Firefly” and “Serenity,” Whedon has imprinted himself on an entire generation of audiences. There are Joss Whedon fan sites, and his life and career take up a very long and informative Wikipedia page. English professors even use episodes of his TV shows to teach their students writing and storytelling.

All of this, plus his love of Marvel comic books, is what made Whedon the perfect person to direct the epic, big-screen adventure “Marvel’s The Avengers.” The movie promises to be the Super Hero team up of a lifetime when an unexpected enemy threatens global safety and security and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. He initiates a daring recruitment effort and gathers Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) to fight together.

Whedon was also very excited about whom he got to work with on the film. “One of the big things that made me jump on board was the casting. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans and Samuel L. Jackson were already on board,” he says. “These are all actors who audiences got to see in movies of their own. In ‘Marvel’s The Avengers,’ they get to see them interact with each other. Everyone is so good that this film is going to be unbearable to edit.

“All of the actors came to me with an extraordinarily positive attitude,” he continues. “Not just about the project, but about each other. All of the conflict that we create amongst The Avengers is acting, because these guys are really rooting for each other and helping each other.

“It’s been interesting. Everybody’s very different. Robert has that anarchic, uncontrollable energy that is very magnetic and very Tony Stark. I wanted Mark Ruffalo to play Bruce Banner because he’s just an open book. He lets you into his heart and you understand everything he’s feeling. That’s who he is as a guy and how he performs. Chris Evans really locked in to the old-fashioned sort of aesthetic of a guy who’s from the ’40s. He has rectitude without being stiff.

“Sam Jackson is Sam Jackson. He does that look and he only needs one eye to pin you to the wall. At the same time, he’s extremely sensitive and textured and that’s what I wanted to get from Nick Fury. I didn’t want him to be all bluster. We’ve seen that and I think there’s more there.

“Chris Hemsworth is a god. This is a man who just makes other men stop going to the gym. It’s not fair. He’s very centered in the way he approaches a scene and the way he is in life. Jeremy Renner has been a wildcard and keeps to himself, but that makes sense because he’s playing a sniper. He shoots a bow and arrow and keeps his distance. He’s fully engaged, but he’s in his own place.

“Scarlett isn’t like her character at all, because she’s so funny and delightful. She’s always in a good mood and is just a riot. Black Widow has a darker incarnation in this film than she did in ‘Iron Man 2’ and Scarlett is very precise when she acts. We hint a little bit at her back-story and it isn’t pretty.

“I got almost every actor a day or two before we started shooting, but I’ve been able to spend time with them while I’m writing and I think they knew I was building from the ground up. I went to every single one of them and said, ‘Here are my ideas and this is how I think you’ll be playing it. Is there something in particular you want to avoid? Something you feel the character needs or wants?’

“They all had input to the degree that they wanted it and it’s been a collaboration from the beginning. I think that helped set the tone right away. I knew exactly what I wanted when I started, but the actors knew that if they told me what they wanted, we could usually do both.”

Whedon also talked with “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau and “Thor” director Kenneth Branagh before he started production. “Jon walked me through his experience on ‘Iron Man’ and shared with me how he worked with Scarlett [Johansson] and Robert [Downey Jr.]. Ken called me to talk about Chris Hemsworth before he cast him in ‘Thor.’ Then I called him when he was shooting the film to ask him about Chris and Tom [Hiddleston] and how they were working out. His insights were wonderful. Both of them have been very helpful and generous.”

Whedon’s visual style for “Marvel’s The Avengers” is perfectly tailored for the project too. “As much as anything, my visual style as a director comes from comic books,” he says. “My understanding of visual storytelling comes from panel art, which I was reading more voraciously than I was watching movies for most of my childhood. In that sense, I had sort of a head start when I started visualizing this film. I hired Seamus McGarvey to be my Director of Photography because of ‘Atonement.’ It’s a gorgeous film. Seamus’ understanding of light as romantic and naturalistic is dazzling.

“Visually, the movie is similar to a lot of things that I do because it’s supposed to be casually iconic. In other words, I want to hit iconic moments without hitting people over the head with them. I want it to feel like a comic book without trying to look like one. I’m trying to ride that line between bigger-than-life characters and their bigger-than-life moments and the very human aspects of them.”

As for fans’ expectations - both his fans as a writer/director and Marvel comic book fans—Whedon has come to terms with them. “I feel respect for the fans, but you can’t let yourself feel the weight of how much they want or need from the project,” Whedon explains. “I really believe that you can die from fan expectations. There are two things that I can’t stand when I go to see a movie based on a comic book: being ignored and being pandered to. Fans are well aware when movies are doing either one. Ultimately, they’re going to see everything they ever hoped to see in ‘Marvel’s The Avengers,’ from every single one of these characters. There won’t be a hint of, ‘Well, we thought we ought to put this in to make the fans happy.’

“Honestly, if I felt the weight of how famous the actors in this movie are, or how big the budget is, or how high the fans’ expectations are, I’d be in my bed right now with the covers pulled up over my head. I did have one little minor freak out and my wife just said, ‘Honey, it’s just the next story.’ That helped.”

Whedon concludes, “I want to make a great Super Hero movie. I want to make a movie that has to have Super Heroes in it and makes it very clear that the world needs Super Heroes—especially this ridiculously motley, mismatched crew of Super Heroes. I want to make the kind of movie that inspires people to say, ‘There should be more movies with Super Heroes in them.’”

(“Marvel’s The Avengers” will assemble in the Philippines on April 25 2012. The film is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Marvel's “Spider-Man” and “The Incredible Hulk” animated series are now aired over ABS CBN, comprising an hour of early programming on Sunday mornings from 8:30-9:30am. ABS-CBN previously aired Marvel's “The Avengers” and “X-Men” animated series.)

GMA's newest afternoon drama Hiram na Puso debuted with very high ratings in both Mega Manila and in the National Urban Philippines according to data from the more trusted television ratings provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement (TAM).

Hiram na Puso’s pilot episode, which aired on March 5, led in the national ratings, gaining a household rating of 14.9 pts. and an audience share of 40.6%, while its nearest competitor ABS-CBN’s Mundo Man ay Magunaw only gained 9.2 pts. and an audience share of 25.1%. This is based on data provided by the Nielsen National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM).

In the viewer-rich Mega Manila, Hiram na Puso’s ratings lead during its debut was even more pronounced with a household rating of 17.5 pts. and an audience share of 46.3%, while its competitor only got 7.4 pts. and an audience share of 19.7%. The densely populated Mega Manila area is considered a bailiwick of GMA-7.

ABS-CBN's newest talent Iza Calzado finally fulfills her dream of starring in Asia's longest-running drama series "Maalaala Mo Kaya" as she topbills this Saturday's (March 10) episode alongside Kapamilya hunk Zanjoe Marudo. Iza will portray the role of Liza, a woman who got into an unconventional affair with a man named Egay (Zanjoe) who was paired with her by a dying friend, who was incidentally Egay's wife. Egay was reluctant at first but decided to respect his wife's dying wish. Liza was also doubtful but accepted Egay because of her lingering fear of ending up as an old spinster.

Can a relationship last a lifetime even without love? Or will love find its way to two people willing to open up their hearts for a second chance?

Iza's first-ever 'MMK' episode also features Rica Peralejo, Lassy, Minnie Aguilar, and Deborah Sun. It was written by Maan Dimaculangan-Fampulme and directed by Nuel Naval. Don't miss Iza's remarkable performance in another TV master piece this Saturday in "Maalaala Mo Kaya" (MMK), after "Wansapanataym" on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to www.mmk.abs-cbn.com, follow MMKOfficial on Twitter, and "like" www.facebook.com/MMKOfficial.

Now that fate has intertwined the lives of Olivia (Eula Valdes), Sheryl (Empress) and Jenny (Nikki Gil) in ABS-CBN's Kapamilya Gold drama series "Mundo Man ay Magunaw," a new revelation will test the strength of characters of everyone as Dante (Emilio Garcia), the old flame of Olivia and husband of Lani (Sylvia Sanchez) returns.

Will Dante's comeback finally clear the issues of the past and fix the damage caused by his sudden disappearance?

Don't miss the thrilling turn of events in "Mundo Man ay Magunaw," weekdays at 2:30 pm, after "It's Showtime" on ABS-CBN's Kapamilya Gold. For more updates, log on to www.abs-cbn.com, follow @abscbndotcom on Twitter, or 'like their Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/mundomanaymagunaw.

With her sweet voice, amazing songwriting talent, pretty face, new teen singer Emmanuelle is poised to be OPM's newest sweetheart. Her self-titled debut album, produced by Universal Records, is out to prove just that.

The young singer expressed excitement over the release of her debut album saying, "this is really a dream come true for me. It feels like I've been given this rare chance of introducing myself to everyone through my music."

Emmanuelle wrote the album's carrier single Happy, a catchy, feel good song that will line her up along the industry's finest groundbreaking artists, along with Zia Quizon and Somedaydream.

She expresses gratitude to Universal Records for producing an album for a newbie like her, amidst the problems of the music industry.

"Emmanuelle is such a gifted artist," says actor Sam Milby. "She really can do everything- sing, act, dance, and write good music. This will surely be a treat to music fans all over the country."

The album also features Manong Guard, a duet with OPM pop rock princess Yeng Constantino.

"Masaya talaga ako na nakasama ako sa album na 'to," admits Yeng. "I am extremely happy that Emmanuelle has been given this chance to record some songs that she wrote herself – dun sa aspect na yun, pareho kaming singer-songwriter."

Aside from Happy, Emmanuelle penned songs like Dear Diary, and Tonight. She also interpreted songs of Ito Rapadas (Sandali Lang) and Jude Gitamondoc (Sarap Mabuhay). She also has her rendition of the hit ballad God Gave Me You.

Aside from being a gifted singer and songwriter, Emmanuelle is also a promising guitar player.

With the advent of television and film, theater may have lost its allure to Filipino audiences. While many theater actors and groups remain passionate and dedicated to the medium, the venues and opportunities for them to showcase their talent remain limited.

This Thursday (March 8) in "Krusada," Karen Davila will address the pressing problems behind theater's lustrous façade and uphold its importance in Philippine culture to prove that it can also cater to the Filipino masses.

Karen will visit Resort World Manila's Performing Arts Theater, the newest, largest, and most modern theater house in the country today. The stars of "The Sound of Music," veteran actors Pinky Amador, Miguel Faustman, Audie Gemora, and Janina Punzalan will also reveal their thoughts on their seemingly obsolete craft.

Also joining Karen in her crusade are organizations that train young theater actors such as the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), Theater Actors Guild, and Teatro de Salinas of Cavite.

Listen, take part and be one with Karen's crusade because it takes more than words to make a stand. Watch "Krusada," which is nominated in the Social Issues/Current Events category at the prestigious 2012 New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards, on Thursday (March 8) after "Bandila" on ABS-CBN, or earlier on DZMM TeleRadyo (SkyCable Channel 26), 9:15 PM.

If she had her way, former First Lady Amelita "Ming" Ramos wants the Philippine Azkals to change their name after 2 of their players were accused of sexually harassing her daughter, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) match commissioner Cristy Ramos.

Ramos said she fully supports her daughter's decision to file a sexual harassment complaint against Azkals Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado. She urged her daughter to remain firm and fight for the rights of women.

The former First Lady said the behavior of the 2 national players reflects badly on the name of the team. The name Azkals is an abbreviation of "asong kalye" or stray dog.

She said the Azkals should consider changing their name to bring back their dignity as the country's official football team.

Former president Fidel Ramos, meanwhile, said his daughter has been a sports official for a long time and obviously knows what she is doing.

He said the team should learn to respect sports officials and should start winning games.

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